La Brea for the lads; Gant, Bonobos join the menswear mix

The 100 block of South La Brea Avenue is adding to its male-focused merchandise mix thanks to the recent opening of Gant's second Southland store -- with a Bonobos shop set to bow right next door.

Back in 2012 we dubbed that stretch of retail real estate "guy's gulch" after noticing that a cluster of guy-centric stores had occupied the block, and the new boutiques (bro-tiques?) are sure to only cement that reputation.

First to open its doors is Gant's 1,100-square-foot white tile and rough-hewn wood space that sports a distinct bistro vibe and opened on April 26 at 101 S. La Brea.

Dubbed a Gant Rugger neighborhood shop ("Rugger" is the designation for the label's younger, more sportswear-driven collection) it joins a handful of similarly appointed Gant Rugger doors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, San Francisco and Chicago. (There's also a Gant Rugger store that opened on Abbot Kinney in Venice a little over a year ago.)

The interior is appointed with antique brass fixtures, reclaimed gym floors, an exposed industrial ceiling, and in a nod to the neighborhood has been furnished by neighboring La Brea design company Croft House.

It also features exclusive designs (or are they installations?) by plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto, whose work was on display during Gant Rugger's fall and winter 2014 New York Fashion Week presentation in February.

As far as what's on the racks themselves, the store is serving up a curated assortment of clothing and accessories for men from the company's Gant Rugger and Gant by Michael Bastian collections. The store is also selling Harry's shave kits and future plans include adding local brands to the mix.

Scheduled to open toward the end of the month (exact date to be determined) just one door to the north, is the offline outpost of online trouser vendor Bonobos. (The two stores actually share the same street address, facing the facade Gant is the door to the left, Bonobos is the door to the right.)

A bricks-and-clicks mash-up, the 1,200-square-foot Bonobos Guideshop will essentially serve as an e-commerce showroom for guys who want to give their perspective trou a try before placing an online order. The space will stock a full complement of Bonobos offerings including suits, chinos, denim and button-front shirts.

The L.A. Guideshop makes No. 10 for the brand, which also has doors in Austin, Texas; Bethesda, Md.; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco and a pair in New York City.